Smoke box arrangement



June 27, 1939. F, ME H, ,.R 2,163,690

SMOKE BOX ARRANGEMENT Filed April 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 27, 1939.. w. F. KIESEL, JR

SMOKE Box ARRANGEMENT Filed April 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES SMOKE BOX ARRANGEMENT Y William F. Kiesel, Jr., Hollidaysbur'g, Pa., assignor of one-third to Virginia Kiesel Rutan, Chevy Chase, Md., one-third to John S. Kiesel, Williamsport, Pa., and one-third to William F. Kiesel, 3rd, Stewart Manor, Long Island, N. Y.

Application April 19, 1937, 'Serial No. 137,850

6 Claims.

This invention relates to smoke boxes and to the fittings therein as arranged for fire tube boilers of the locomotive type, and more particularly to the structure and disposition of the cin- 5 der netting or spark arrester, and its relationship to other parts within the smoke box such as the inner extension of the stack, the exhaust and blower nozzles, the petticoat, and theboiler flues.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide novel and improved smoke box arrangements.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a cinder netting or spark arrester arranged in substantial axial alignment with and between the exhaust nozzle and the stack and provided with passages offering less impediment to the draft and less opportunity for the passage of cinders of sufficient size to cause damage. 1

One feature of the cinder netting consists in forming the same of a strip or strips of metal of elongated cross-section with the major axes so disposed in relation to the direction of impact of the gases on the outside of the netting as to prevent .the direct passage therethrough of cinders, whereby they are driven against the surface of the netting with sufiicient force to break them into small particles. 7

A further feature of the invention consists in a netting which is less liable to clog, and thus reduce the draft area than conventional forms, and which is much sturdier and longer lived because of the heavier sections of metal forming its component parts.

Another feature of the invention consists in a cinder netting of generally tubular form whose largest diameter is less than the minimum diameter of the-stack and in which the netting is formed by longitudinally spaced, circumferenfi tially disposed, metal strips positioned by notched spacer bars and in which extension of the major axes of any metal strip, in cross-section, intersects the axis of the whole netting a considerable distance below that strip, whereby gas passages between the strips are provided which have no flow component in the direction of cinder and gas flow toward the netting.

A still further feature of the invention consists in a netting of the type described which extends from the bottom of the inner stack to the bottom of the smoke box, surrounds the base of the exhaust nozzle and presents to the general direction of flow of the gases toward the.

,5 nettingmonly substantially fiat surfaces for the prevention of the passage of large cinders through the netting.

.Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent tothose skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accom panying drawings and following specification wherein are disclosed several exemplary embodiments of the invention with the understanding that such changes and modifications may be made therein as fall within the scopeof the ap-. pended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. v

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the smoke box and stack of a locomotive, looking. toward the rear;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through one form of cinder netting; and

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary vertical sections through further embodiments of cinder nettingsin accordance with the present invention. a

In my patent, No. 1,749,487, for Smoke box and stack, granted March 4, 1930, there is shown an arrangement wherein a cinder netting, formed of more or less conventional wire fabric, arranged in tubular form extends from the bottom of the smoke box up to the lower end of an inner extension of a stack-of a locomotive and is surrounded by a flaring petticoat. 5

The present invention contemplates improve- H ments in the construction disclosed therein, not only in the arrangement of parts, but particularly in the construction of the netting itself whereby a freer flow of gases-is permitted, less opportunity for clogging is presented and in which the cinders are broken up very f ne before being discharged from the stack. These results are largely attained by the novel method of forming the cinder netting from strip metal, so arranged as to present more or less flat faces substantially normal to the line of flow of the gases toward, the netting, without having the apertures between thestrips in alignment with this fiow so that all cinders must first strike the i5 metal of the netting at their considerable initial velocity to be broken by the impact and rebound. Some of these fall to the bottom of the smoke box to be swept up by the next induced draft from the exhaust blast so that the bottom of the. smoke box is substantially self-cleaning by reason of the small size of the cinders which fall to the bottom after impact withthe netting.

. The petticoat of the present construction has been mademore flaring and its bottom edge is the outer surface of the part 22.

spaced practically a uniform distance above the upper surface of the cylinder saddle or bottom of the smoke box to provide greater uniformity of draft and better access to the netting for the gases of combustion around the perimeter of the petticoat.

The construction of the spark arrester is, of course, subject to considerable variation without departing from the spirit of the invention, and

although the preferred form has been shown as formed of strips substantially rectangular in cross-section, with slightly rounded edges, nevertheless, it is clear that these strips could be angular or curved in cross-section which would impart greater rigidity to them without disturbing their functional arrangement including the substantial overlapping in the direction of the flow of the gases to the netting to prevent the direct passage of cinders between them.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which there is disclosed at I!) the smoke box of a locomotive, positioned at the front end of the boiler barrel II which is closed by the flue sheet l2. This sheet supports the forward ends of the flues and tubes I3 which deliver the flue gases and smoke from the fire box and through which large and incandescent cinders are often drawn by the tremendous draft induced by the exhaust steam delivered up the stack as will be later described.

The forward end of the smoke box, which is generally cylindrical in form, may be closed in any desired manner as by a hinged door, not shown, which permits access to the interior of the box.

In the lower portion of the smoke box alarge aperture l4 to place it in communication with the deeply depressed well or cavity [5 cast in the upper surface of the cylinder saddle [6 may be provided. The walls I! of this cavity form then the bottom closure for the smoke box and give it much greater depth than heretofore. Surrounding this cavity is the integral seat l8 supporting the smoke box which is rigidly secured thereto in any desired manner.

As described, the smoke box forms a completely closed chamber or compartment having as its only means of gas inlet the flues and as its only egress the stack which in the present case is formed in two parts which may be integral where desired. The outer portion 20 is as tall as permitted by tunnel and bridge clearances and is attached by means of the flange 2! to the exterior of the smoke box, whereas the inner portion or extension thereof, 22, is preferably carried from brackets 24 secured to the inner wall of the smoke box and bolted as at 25 to clips on This inner section of the stack is preferably circular in crosssection, and converges slightly toward'the lower end which is arranged substantially at the center of the circular portion of the smoke box 10.

In order to prevent large cinders from issuing from the stack and causing fire hazards, a netting 3| to be described in more detail later, is interposed between the lower end of the extension 22 and the bottom wall of the cavity l5 in order that all flue gases and smoke must pass therethrough before issuing from the stack. This netting is preferably cylindrical in form, al-

though it may be of frusto-conical or any other desired configuration. In order that it may be inserted and Withdrawnthrough the stack its maximum diameter should be somewhat less than the minimum diameter of any portion of the stack.

The lower end of the netting closely surrounds and fits the flange 32 resting on the bottom wall of the saddle cavity and the upper end of the netting is received within the flange ring 33 on the lower end of the inner'stack portion 22 where it has a tight fit to prevent the escape of cinders.

The stack is extended down around the netting by means of a flaring petticoat 34 which extends from the junction of the netting with the stack downward to within a uniform and predetermined distance above the bottom of the smoke box. It is somewhat spaced from the netting at the top by the flange ring 33 and owing to its flaring shape is widely spaced from the netting at the bottom as clearly shown in the drawings. In smoke boxes with depressed wells or cavities the bottom of the petticoat is below the level of the lowest flues or tubes so that no combustion gases impinge directly on the netting.

The petticoat may well be formed in several parts hinged or otherwise joined together for convenience in assembly and mounting, and reference should be had to the patent referred to above for a satisfactory construction in this re spect. Likewise the devices used for supporting the petticoat from the inner stack may be identical with those shown in that patent and it should be here noted that the hooks 39 extending from the upper end of the petticoat through apertures in the flange ring 33 for supporting the petticoat overlie the upper edge of the netting in the present construction as well as in the earlierone and prevent the same from being lifted into the stack due to the action of the escaping exhaust.

The flange 32 previously referred to as the locating and positioning means for the bottom of the netting forms an integral part of the exhaust nozzle fitting 4| which projects upwardly from the floor of the recess I! only a sufficient distance to smoothly merge the exhaust streams into the narrow, radially disposed, discharge passages 42 at the mouth of the nozzle. While the nozzle itself forms no part of the present invention it is preferred that it be shaped in accordance with one of the embodiments disclosed in my patent, No, 1,726,152, for Exhaust nozzle.

This fitting 4|, in addition to the exhaust gas passages to provide the main draft, also contains the integral annular chamber 43 outside of the exhaust steam passage which has its upper surface drilled at spaced intervals as at 44 to receive the elongated blower nozzle tips 45 conveniently disposed between the flaring lips 46 of the exhaust nozzle. These blower nozzles are for the purpose of maintaining adequate combustion when the locomotive is at rest and no exhaust is available. They are directly fed with live steam from the boiler in a well-known way.

Exhaust steam is supplied to the exhaust nozzle from the passage 46 cast integral in the cylinder saddle and being the junction of the merged individual exhaust passage 4'! leading from the cylinders.

Various forms of exhaust netting are shown in Figures 2-6, inclusive. In each of these forms the main elements of the netting are of strip metal, steel or iron, having in cross-section a much greater length than thickness and preferably being rounded on the edges in order to provide the least obstruction to the passage of gases. These strips are disposed substantially circumferentially or i til

.willimpinge against the strip surfaces. their considerable velocity thus suddenly destroyed, they will be violently broken into'small offt he tubular netting, are spaced ap'art Iongitudinally thereof to provide gas passages and are of sufficiently heavy weightmaterial to have 'arnuch longer life than the usual netting. By

reason of the'disposition of the metal in these strips the passages between the strips can be as large as or larger than those in the conventional types of nettings and yet no direct passages are provided for the gases and cinders as will appear more fully as the description proceeds. I

In the embodiment of Figure 2 the netting, as

in all embodiments. is shown as generally cylindrical, although of course it mightbe of some other cross-section than circular, and need not, of necessity, have the same diameter throughout its length.

'In this figure the metal strips 5|] forming the major portion of the netting are shown as substantially rectangular in cross-section as at 5!,

each having a major axis 52 and a. minor axis 53.

Inthis form of construction each strip is bent into a closed ring, the ends being buttwelded,

for instance, as at 54, The rings thus formed by the strips have the metal so disposed therein that the major axis of the cross-section of the strip at any point, if extended, would intersect the is'a short, hollow, inverted, truncated cone.

'The various strips are spaced apart longitudinally preferably at such intervals 51 that the inner lower edge 58 of one and the upper outer edge 59 of the one immediately below it either overlap or are in alignment relative to the direction' of flow of gases to the netting so that a passageway or space 51 between the strips has no true 'flow component in that direction. This means that gases and cinders approaching in line with the direction of flow toward the netting will be deflected by the inclined outer surfaces of the strips and the cinders because of their velocity With parts so that all large cinders will be pulverized before passing between the strips.

The strips are held in the spaced relationship described by vertical bars 60 circumferentially spaced about the inside of the whole netting at convenient intervals and notched as at 6| on their outer edges to properly receive and space the strip-rings which are held in the notches as by welding metal 62.

It will be seen that the strips forming the major portion of each netting are, in cross-section, substantially rectangular, have rounded corners or edges and have their major axes at least three times as great as the minor. The flatter the angle at which the strips are disposed, the greater the number required and the smaller becomes the space between them in order to maintain the absence of direct passages unless the strips become uneconomically wide.

In Figure 3 the construction differs from that in Figure 2 only by having the strip 50 helically disposed sothat one long strip may be used to form the whole netting. This is coiled up into position like a spring and proper spacing is achieved by means of the notched bars 60. This construction shows the top turn of the strip bent with its major axis parallel to the axis of the netting and welded as at 63 to the last inclined turn. It may be additionally positioned, as by means of extensions 64," on eachof the spacer bar's'fiflfi A similar disposition of one turn may be'used at the bottom and in each of the embodiments to strengthen'the whole assembly and to provide a 'close fit about the flange 32 and within the flange 33 to prevent leakage of cinders. I

Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the strips 50 are curved transversely, while in Figure 5 these strips 50' are angular in cross-section. These formsof construction impart greater stiffness to. the strips between spacer bars, prevent vibration and the subsequent destruction of the welds and may increase the tortuousness of the passages between the strips, insuring that every cinder, no matter what its size, will strike the surface of a strip and be further reduced in dimensions. It should be remembered that small cinders quench readily and are not likely to start fires. It will be obvious that a great many different configurations of the strips are possible and that they may be arranged either helically or in superposed rings properly spaced.

Figure 6 shows a form in which the longitudinal overlap between turns or adjacent stripsis greater than in previously disclosed forms offering greater insurance against cinder passage without requiring narrow spacing of the strips. By constructions such as those shown and suggested, a materially improved spark arrester is provided, one which has longer life, provides greater spaces for passage of gases, is more efficient in preventing the passage of live sparks and one which does not materially reduce the draft induced by the exhaust nozzle. Furthermore, this type of netting is not apt to become clogged with cinders.

In operation, the mixed cinders and gases issuing from the flues and tubes [3 are drawn down beneath the bottom edge of the petticoat, the cinders continuing .the downward course and striking the bottom of the smoke box. The draft then draws the cinders in an upward direction, so that they will impinge almost normal to the surfaces of the strips at high velocity and become pulverized. The gases will then take a tortuous ,passage through the netting while the cinders themselves if not sufliciently pulverized to follow the gases will rebound against, the petticoat and I of the stack, but has its upper wall substantially coinciding with the curvature of the smoke box, the petticoat will of course'be much shorter, and

,it is'highly desirable that its bottom edge should be so shaped that it is substantially uniformly spaced throughout its periphery from whatever surface forms the bottom wall of the smoke box.

By the construction just described, the best results are attained in the conventional smoke box construction, for the draft is uniform around the whole periphery of the spark arrester and there is the least possibility of sparks being directed from the flues and tubes directly onto the surface of the netting without being first driven into the bottom of the smoke box as described in connecion with the preferred embodiment.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A spark arrester for locomotives comprising in combination, a reticulated, tubular member adapted to be mounted within thesmoke box, said member, being formed of aplurality of like, circumferentially disposed and longitudinally spaced rings, each ring being formed of a band. of strip metal and arranged to give the ring a frusto-conical form, the spacing of the bands and the disposition of the strips in each being such that no direct passages exist between the bands in line with the direction of flow of gases to the spark arrester, and a flaring petticoat so surrounding the said member that all products of combustion are directed upwardly along said member and are prevented from direct impingement thereon.

2. The combination, with a locomotive smoke box, stack and exhaust nozzle, of a spark arrester of generally tubular form sized for insertion through the stack and for extension from the bottom thereof to the base of said nozzle, said arrester being formed of substantially circumferentially disposed metal strips, substantially vertical rods secured to and spacing said strips from each other to provide. gas passages through the arrester, the cross-section of any strip having a major and minor axis, the major axes extended intersecting the axis of the arrester at an angle and nozzleward of the corresponding strip, and a petticoat depending from said stack, surrounding all of the arrester above the nozzle and directing gases generally in the line of the minor axes of the strips.

3. The combination with a locomotive having a smoke box, a stack extending through the upper side thereof, an exhaust nozzle below said stack and adapted to discharge therein, and a flaring petticoat depending from said stack, of a generally tubular, reticulated spark arresting member extending vertically in said smoke box from bottom to stack, in alignment with the exhaust nozzle and within the petticoat, said member being removable through the stack and having apertures therethrough for the passage of gases, said apertures extending downwardly at such an angle and for such a distance that the lower outside edges thereof are at least in alignment with the upper inside edges thereof in line with the direction of flow of gases into the petticoat, so that direct movement of particles through the passages is prevented.

4. In a locomotive, in combination, a flue sheet, a smoke box, a. cylinder saddle supporting said box and having a depressed portion forming an extension of the smoke box, an exhaust nozzle in said depression, an inner stack depending from the top of said smoke box, a Widely flaring petticoat depending from said inner stack to below the level of all flues in said sheet, the lower edge of said petticoat being close to and substantially uniformly spaced from the bottom Wall of said depression, a spark arresting screen extending from the junction of stack and petticoat to the bottom of said depression, surrounding said nozzle, said screen being removable through the stack and having apertures therethrough for the passage of gases, said passages extending inwardly and downwardly at such an angle that no direct passage therethrough is possible in the direction of gas flow into and through the petticoat.

5. In a locomotive, in combination, a flue sheet, a smoke box, a cylinder saddle supporting said box and having a depressed portion forming an extension of the smoke box, an exhaust nozzle in said depression, an inner stack depending from the top of said smoke box, a widely flaring petticoat depending from said inner stack to below the level of all fines in said sheet, the

lower edge of said petticoat being close to and substantially uniformly spaced from the bottom wall of said depression, said lower edge being substantially mid-way between the walls of the depression and the exhaust nozzle, a spark arresting screen extending from the junction of stack and petticoat to the bottom of said depression and surrounding said nozzle, said screen being removable through said stack and being formed of spaced metal strips, the strips having their greatest transverse dimension in the di rection of gas flow between them, said strips being disposed to present their greatest dimension substantially normal to the direction of gas flow toward them and directed by said petticoat.

6. The combination with a locomotive having a smoke box, a stack extending through the upper side thereof and an exhaust nozzle below said stack and adapted to discharge'therein, of a flaring petticoat depending from and having a practically gas-tight connection with said stack, a generally tubular reticulated spark arresting member extending vertically in said smoke box from the bottom thereof to the stack, surrounding said nozzle and being formed of a plurality of like, circumferentially disposed and longitudinally spaced turns of a metal strip, each turn being formed with the strip so disposed that the 

